Pneumatic tire



Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PNEUMATIC TIRE l,

Albert E. Dietmwashiligton, D. C.

Application February 2, 1942, Serial No. 429,308

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved pneu-l matic tire especially adapted for motor vehicles although, however, the tire is also suitable for use upon bicycles or other adaptations such as the landing wheels of aeroplanes and other ground wheels generally which employ pneumatic tires.

An object of the invention is to` provide a tire which, in its make-up will minimize or even avoid the use of rubber while, at the same time, the cushioned riding qualities of the `tire will be as good or better than a conventional composite tire employing rubber as an impermeable agent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tire embodying a plurality of resilient cushioning elements in the wall thereof vwhich will impart an elasticity and superior flexibility to said wall for cushioning road shock.

Still another object of the invention is toprovide a tire having breather openings through the tread thereof for the passage of air tending to cool the tread while the tire is in motion, wherein said openings will be normally sealed by a diaphragm within the tire, and wherein said diaphragm will be flexed, as thetire rolls over a road surface, for drawing air inwardly 'through said openings and again expelling the air `therethrough. l

A further object of the invention, in the'lforegoing connection, is to provide a tire wherein the diaphragm will be secured at spaced circumferential points by stop ties limiting the distortion of the diaphragm at the crown thereof, whereby, as the tire is flexed in traveling over a road surface, the diaphragm will be prevented from following the crown of the tire at said points so that air will be drawn by the diaphragm through the openings in the treadand again expelled through said openings.

And the invention seeks, as a still further object, to provide a tire wherein, should the tire become punctured, the elastic elements in the wall of the tire will provide al cushion upon which the wheel may ride, and whereinv means will be provided for securing the tire, when de-` flated, against dislocation from the wheel rim.

Other and incidental objects of the invention will appear during the course ofthe following description, and in the drawing: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section through my improved tireand showing it deflated.

Figure 6 is a transverse` vertical section 4of a modification of the invention and showing the tire deflated. f l

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the tire on a rim and inflated.

cushioning elements are preferablyformed of f felt or other suitable brous material so that "mal round cross-sectional'shape when pressure thereon is relieved. Thel degree ofv elasticity or thus be rendered substantially homogeneous andimpervious to moisture while, also, the casing ID will rbe conditioned to contain airunder pressure However, should a suitable plastic for the purpose notfbe available, rubber may be employed as a substitute in accordance with'con'ventional practice. Entering the casing I6 is asuitable valve I5 through which the casing may be inflated.

Suitably imposed upon the casing I0 at `the crown thereof is an appropriate tread I5, and formed through said tread and throughthejwall 0f ,the casing at spaced circumferential points are transverse rows of openings Il. I

Fixed at its side margins to the wall ofthe casing 'I Il, preferably at points on the horizontal diameter thereof, is a corrugated diaphragm I8. This diaphragm is preferably of a fabric suit' ably impregnated like the covers II, and I2, and anchoring the crown of thediaphragm at spaced circumferential areas adjacent the rows of openings I 'I are pairs of diverging fabric stop ties lI9 extending between said crown vand ,the inner periphery of the casing at its smaller circiunferen'ce Y The ties I9 are preferably impregnated like the diaphragm as well as looped to accommodate elongation thereof, and projecting from the cover I'I at points opposite the inner ends of the stop ties are pairs of divergng studs 20 which are more or less flexible and terminate in elastic `heads2l which may be ring-shaped, as shown.

In Figure 2 of the drawing, I have shown the v tire on a concavo-convex rim 22 which is apertured to receive the valve I5. 'The rim may be of any suitable design except that for the purposes of the present invention, said rim is formed at of openings 23 to receive the studs 20 there.-l through so that the heads 2| lie at the inner pe'- riphery of the rim. As the tire is installed upon lthe rim, these heads are compressed and inserted through said openings when, after the studsl are seated and the heads emerge at the` inner periphery of the rim, said heads will resume their normal shapev forsecurl'ng the tire upon the rim.`

Furthermore, as willbe perceived, the headed studs will also serve to anchor the wall of the casing I at the points of outward radial pull thereon by the stop ties I9. l l

Assuming now that the tire is inated to its rated normal pressure, as shown in Figure 2fof the drawing, it will `be seen that the. diaphragm I8 will be flexed to lie against the interior of the wall of the casing II) at the crown thereof for normally sea-ling the rows of openings I'I through the tread I6, the stop ties I9 being extended their` full length. However, as will be appreciated, the cross-sectional shape of the tire will, 'as the tire rolls over a road surface, be distorted both radially and transversely, with theV result that the wall of the casing Ill willr ybe caused to depress the' diaphragm at the circumferentially spaced areas adjacent the rows ofopenings I1 and, due to the presence of the stop tiesV I9, will also be caused to slightly flex away-fronrthe diaphragm at said areas to subsequently return into contact therewith. Thus, as the wall of the `casing IEI moves away from the diaphragm adjacent the areas of the outer ends of the stopties, air will be drawn in through the rows of openings il by the diaphragm while, as the point of load onthe tire shifts, the wall thereof will again move into contact with the diaphragmA at said areas for expelling the air through said openings. The tread willfthus be cooled. V

It is further to be noted. that when the tire. is inflated, the cushioning elements I3 will be'flattened more or less but will, however, retain an ovate cross-sectional shape to impart a. pronounced elasticity and resiliency to the walljcf the casing IU for cushioning road shock. .Furthermore, should the tire be punctured, the cushioning elements I3 will tend to resume their normal vround cross-sectional shape, as shown `in suitably spaced circumferential points with pairs' 2,368,974 A, IL

33 to receive the headed studs 29. Otherwise, the modified structure is identical with the form of the invention rst disclosed and further .description is accordingly believed unnecessary.

Having thusvdescribed'my invention, what I claim is:

1.v A pneumatic tire including a casing com. prising a exible external carcass wall embodying rinner and outer covers exibly secured together at transversely spaced` points about said wall in superposed contact, and a plurality of spaced annular resilient tubular cushioning elements of elastic liber confined between said covers at points between the points of contact thereof, Vsaid elements being capable of being flattened by air pressure distending the casing and adapted to expand toward original shape when saidI air pressure. is relieved for contracting thev distended casing toward normal shape. l

2. A pneumatic tire including a casing `com,- prising a flexible external carcass wallembodying inner and outer covers flexibly secured together attransversely spaced points Aab'outsai'd wall in superposed Contact, and a plurality of' spaced annular tubular felt cushioning elements conned between said covers at points between ther points of contact thereof, said elements being capable of being attened Vby'` airpressure distending the casingand adapted to expand toward original shape when said air pressure vis relieved for contracting'the distended casing toward normal shape. I

3./Apneumatic tire including. a casing cornprising. external. carcass wall embodying inner` and outer covers iiexib-lyv secured together at transversely spacedvpoints about said Wall in superposed contactga plurality VLoi spaced'annular resilient tubular cushioningelements of elastic fiber conned, between said'covers at points between the points of contact thereof, said` wall providing side portions connected bya crown, and a flexible annular transverse diaphragm connecting thev side portions of the casing and normally lying in spaced relation to the crown thereof, said diaphragm beingcorrugated to provide reserve 'width whereby the vdiaphragm may Figure 1, and will overlie the edges of. the rim 22, when the tire is collapsed. to provide a cushion upon which the rim may ride, thus tending to prevent sudden injury to the tire. As will zbe perceived, dislocation off the tire from therirn, under such conditions, will be prevented by the headed studs 2l).

In Figures 6 and' of the drawing, I have shown a `modification of the inventionl embodying' a lbeaded tire. The wall .of the casing isindicated as a whole at 24, the treadv at 25, the diaphragm at 26 and the stop ties. at 2.1'. Formedon the wall of the casing Iare beads 28 which carry headed studsv 29 like the studs 2D.

A suitableinner tube is indicated ,at 3U and a rim to receive the beaded tire at3I.. The rim is apertured to accommodate the. valve 32 of the vinner tube and is also provided with openings by air pressure be attened against the inner surface of the crown without obstructing: a volume of compressed air within. the casing to distend the crown. v Y

4..Alpneumaticz tire including a casing com` width whereby the diaphragm may by air pressure. be flattened against the inner surface oi the crown without obstructing a volume of ccmpressed air within the casing toy distend the crown, and stop ties extending between the rnedian portion of the diaphragm and said side portionsof the casing for limiting the attening movement .of the diaphragm at spaced annular points jabout the' crown. l f

' ALBERTE. DIETE( 

